Lesson 1: Fundamental Issues in Environmental Science Big Question: Why Is Science Necessary to...

Lesson 1: Fundamental Issues in Environmental Science

Big Question: Why Is Science Necessary to Solve

Environmental Problems?

Lesson 1 / ESRM100 / University of Washington

How to Use the Online Lessons

The primary purpose of the online lectures are

to review, reinforce, and add to material

covered in the book. Material you receive in

these online lessons is just as likely to be on

exams as other material in the book. Some

material, particularly UW, local and regional

examples, and timely material, may be only on

this site.

The best way for you to use the class materials

is to read the each book chapter first, then

view the lessons.

Lesson 1 / ESRM100 / University of Washington 3

What is "Environmental Wisdom"?

“Environmental Wisdom” must include the little and the big pictureand must include people.

Visit and research the following sites:

Wikipedia article on Coffee: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/CoffeeCoffeeResearch.org: Coffee Production Statistics:http://www.coffeeresearch.org/market/production.htmWhere the Hell Is Matt?:http://www.wherethehellismatt.com/?fbid=ZIotVystLiI

What does the information on these sites tell us about something as simple as coffee, travel, dancing, and people in the world in relationship to Environmental Science?


Sustainability

In the past 35 years, the number of people in

the world more than doubled, from 2.5 billion

to over 6.6 billion. Visit this site for

current data:

U.S. Census Bureau:

http://www.census.gov/main/www/popclock.html

Our rapidly increasing population underlies all

environmental problems because most

environmental damage results from the very

large number of people on Earth.


Sustainability

Use it, but don’t use it up

Other uses of the term "sustainability":• sustainable society• sustainable economy• sustainable development• sustainable architecture• More on sustainability at Wikipedia:

Sustainability:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sustainability


Earth’s Carrying Capacity

How many people can Earth sustain?

Carrying capacity is usually defined as the

maximum number of individuals of a species that

can be sustained by an environment over the

long term.


A Global Perspective

Today our actions are experienced worldwide.

Life makes Earth’s environment unlike that of

other planets.

The Gaia hypothesis proposes that the global

environment has been profoundly changed by life

throughout the history of life on Earth, and

that these changes have improved the chances

that life on Earth will continue.

See the Wikipedia article: Think Globally, Act

Locally.


Cities Affect the Environment

We are becoming an urban species, and our

effects on the environment are more and more

the effects of urban life.

We must look more closely at the effects of

urbanization.

Even as this happens, we cherish the concept of

time in non-urban environments more than ever.


People and Nature

“Principle of environmental unity”: everything

affects everything else

We depend on nature for many natural service

functions

For a lot more information (and propaganda) on

the impacts of overconsumption, see the

International Buy Nothing Day Web site:

http://www.ecoplan.org/ibnd/ib_index.htm


Science and Values

• Before we decide what kind of environment we

want, we need to know what is possible.• Science is a process of discovery.• Sometimes changes in ideas are small.• Sometimes a science undergoes a fundamental

revolution in ideas.


Science is one way of looking at the world.It begins with observations about the natural

world.

From these observations, scientists formulate

hypotheses that can be tested.

Science does not deal with things that cannot be

tested by observation, such as the following:• the ultimate purpose of life;• the existence of a supernatural being; or• standards of beauty or issues of good and

evil.

Ideas are scientific if it is possible to

disprove them.


What is Environmental Science?

A group of sciences that attempt to explain how

life on Earth is sustained, what leads to

environmental problems, and how these problems

can be solved.

Often linked with nonscientific fields that

have to do with how we value the environment

(such as Deep Ecology).

Deals with many topics that have great

emotional effects on people.


Placing a Value on the EnvironmentUtilitarian justification

• values the environment it is useful

economically or for survival.

Ecological justification• Values the larger life-support functions of

the environment.

Aesthetic justification• values beauty.

Moral justification• based on one’s view of right and wrong, and

extending inherent rights beyond humans.


Solving Many Environmental Problems Involves Systems and Rates of ChangeA system is a set of parts that function

together to act as a whole, like a city

(streets, buildings, sewer systems) or a river

(water sources, animals and plants in and along

the river.


Positive Feedback: Off-road Vehicles (ORVs) and Erosion


Some situations involve both positive and negative feedbackExample: changes in human populations of large

cities


Exponential growth

Exponential growth is an important outcome of

positive feedback

Exponential growth is incompatible with

sustainability


Environmental Unity

It is impossible to change only one thing;

everything affects everything else

Changes in one part of a system often have

secondary and tertiary effects within the

system and effects on adjacent systems

See Wikipedia: Butterfly Effect and Wikipedia:

A Sound of Thunder. Also see "The Butterfly

Effect—Real?"


Changes and Equilibrium in SystemsWhen the input to a system is equal to the

output, the system is said to be in a steady

state

Steady state is a dynamic equilibrium because

something is still happening


• If input is less than the output, the storage compartment will shrink– Groundwater extraction

• If input exceeds

output, the storage

compartment will

expand– Groundwater

pollution


To effectively manage natural systems, we need to understand:

– the types of disturbances and changes that are likely to occur

– the time periods over which changes occur– the importance of each change to the long-term

productivity of the system.


Biota: Biosphere and Sustaining LifeBiota: all living things (animals and plants,

microorganisms) within a given area

Biosphere: the region of Earth where life

exists

What is needed to sustain life?

there must be several species within a system

that includes air and water to transport

materials and energy – an ecosystem


Ecosystems

A community of organisms and their local

nonliving environment in which matter (chemical

elements) cycles and energy flows

Vary in size, from the smallest puddle of water

to a large forest, or the entire global

biosphere

Ecosystem borders may be clearly or vaguely

defined


Environmental characteristics thatmake solving problems harderLag time is the time between a stimulus and a

system’s response to that stimulus

If there is a long delay between stimulus and

response, then the resulting changes are much

more difficult to recognize


Exponential Growth and Long Lag TimeExponential growth and long lag time may allow

a population to eventually exceed the carrying

capacity, resulting in overshoot and a decline

collapse in the population.

Some environmental changes may be irreversible

over time periods of hundreds or thousands of

years


Ecological Footprint

Ecological footprint - the total area each

person requires based on the resources used and

the waste produced.

We may be consuming about 20% more of Earth’s

biological productivity than is replaced each

year.

Take the Ecological Footprint Quiz to determine

your own ecological footprint.


The Precautionary Principle:When in Doubt, Play It SafeIt can be difficult to prove with absolute certainty

how human activities lead to local and global

environmental problems.

When there is a threat of serious environmental

damage, we should not wait for certain scientific

proof before taking steps to prevent potential harm.

How much proof do we need before acting?

We need to examine the benefits and costs of taking

a particular action versus taking no action.

The Precautionary Principle is a proactive tool.

More information on the Precautionary Principle.


Chapter 1: Fundamental Issues in Environmental Science

Questions? E-mail your TA.

[email protected]

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